Apron feeder pan

Abstract

Apron feeders, having a material hopper and chain conveyors with outboard chain driven pans, are under significant stress and at risk of premature failure at the material-control wings. Herein, embodiments of pan are provided fit with mechanically-fastened wings to mitigate stress risers. Each pan has an upper plate with overhanging portions forming left and a right outboard chain connection. At a high stress location, between the hopper walls and the chain connections, the wings are mechanical secured to an upper plate of the pan. In embodiments, the wings are formed of an L-shaped wing, such as a bent plate, having a base portion for parallel and mechanical connection to the upper plate. The wing's base portion can be fastened with one or more of the bolt holes and bolts that also secure the pan to the chain conveyors.

The embodiments of the invention for which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows: 
     
       1. A pan having spaced wings for an apron feeder having a material hopper and outboard chain conveyors, the chain conveyors having a plurality of said pans and wings, each pan comprising:
 an elongate beam structure extending transversely across the chain conveyors having an upper plate with overhanging portions at opposing left and right distal ends, each left and right distal end of the upper plate having a left and a right outboard chain connection interface for connection to the outboard chain conveyors; 
 each left and right distal end having an L-shaped wing having a base portion for parallel and mechanical connection to the upper plate, and an upstanding portion located inward of the left or right outboard chain connection interface, respectively; 
 wherein the outboard chain conveyors comprise left and right opposing chain links sets of axially extending, parallel and spaced endless conveyors, and each pan is connected at corresponding left and right opposing chain links sets, the plurality of adjacent pans forming a material bed between opposing hopper walls, the material bed having a bed width supporting and transporting a live load of material axially along the feeder; 
 each left and a right outboard chain connection interface is adapted for mechanical securement to the corresponding left and right chain link sets; and 
 wherein each of the left and right distal ends has four or more bolt holes corresponding to four or more receiving holes in the corresponding chain link set, two inward and two outward bolt holes. 
 
     
     
       2. The pan of  claim 1  wherein the base of each L-shaped wing is mechanically fastened to the upper plate with the mechanical fastening of the chain connection interface to the chain link set. 
     
     
       3. The pan of  claim 1  wherein the base portion of each L-shaped wing is mechanically fastened to the upper plate separate from the mechanical fastening of each chain connection interface to each respective chain link set. 
     
     
       4. The pan of  claim 1 , wherein each L-shaped wing is formed of a single plate bent into the L-shape. 
     
     
       5. The pan of  claim 1 , wherein the pan's upper plate comprises a unitary member having an upper surface for receiving and conveying material thereon, and a lower surface, the lower surface at the left and right distal ends adapted for connection to its respective left and right chain link set. 
     
     
       6. The pan of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate beam structure further comprises the pan's upper plate, a lower plate, and a pair of parallel and upstanding webs extending along the beam axis and spaced apart by a web spacing less than about a plate width, each left and right end of the lower plate and webs terminating short of the chain conveyors for forming the overhanging portions at the left and right distal ends. 
     
     
       7. The pan of  claim 6 , wherein left and right ends of the pair of upstanding webs further comprise converging web portions, the web portions converging from the parallel web spacing to an apex at about a centerline of the upper and lower plates, the converging web portions terminating short of the left and right chain link set. 
     
     
       8. The pan of  claim 7 , wherein the elongate beam structure further comprises upstanding stiffener ribs adjacent each of the left and right distal end, each stiffener rib secured along the centerline of the upper and lower plates, and extending between the pair of converging web portions, each rib terminating short of the left and right chain link set respectively. 
     
     
       9. The pan of  claim 6 , wherein the elongate beam structure further comprises upstanding stiffener ribs adjacent each of the left and right distal end, each stiffener rib secured along the centerline of the upper and lower plates, and extending between the pair of upstanding webs, each rib terminating short of the left and right chain link set respectively. 
     
     
       10. The pan of  claim 1 , wherein each wing plate base portion has two or more bolt holes formed therein and corresponding to the two inward bolt holes. 
     
     
       11. An apron feeder assembly comprising:
 a hopper having at least opposing left and right hopper walls, 
 a pair of spaced endless conveyors of chain link sets; and 
 a plurality of pans; each pan connected to corresponding left and right opposing chain links sets for forming a material bed between the opposing left and right hopper walls for transporting a live load of the material axially along the feeder, each pan comprising
 an elongate beam structure extending transversely across the material bed and having an upper plate, the upper plate overhanging the beam structure at opposing left and tight distal ends, 
 each left and right distal end having, respectively, a left or a right outboard chain connection interface for mechanical securement to corresponding left and right chain link sets; 
 each left and right distal end having, respectively, four or more bolt holes corresponding to four or more receiving holes in the corresponding chain link set, two inward and two outward bolt holes; and 
 inward of each left and right connection interface, a wing arranged adjacent outward of its respective hopper wall, each wing comprising a formed L-shaped wing plate having a base portion for mechanical connection to the upper plate and an upstanding portion for restraining material bed within the hopper wall. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The apron feeder of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of pans comprises a mixture of featureless standard pans and grouser pans. 
     
     
       13. The apron feeder of  claim 11 , wherein at least some of the pans of the plurality of pans comprise idler pans, each idler pan supporting an idler at the left and right distal ends, the idlers further comprising an idler support box secured to each of the left and right distal ends and having an idler wheel extending laterally from the support box for engaging an idler track outward of the pans. 
     
     
       14. The apron feeder of  claim 11  wherein the base of each L-shaped wing is adapted for mechanical fastening to the upper plate with the mechanical fastening of the chain connection interface to the chain link set. 
     
     
       15. The apron feeder of  claim 11 , wherein each L-shaped wing is formed of a single plate bent into the L-shape. 
     
     
       16. The apron feeder of  claim 11 , wherein the elongate beam structure further comprises the pan's upper plate, a lower plate, and a pair of parallel and upstanding webs extending along the beam axis and spaced apart by a web spacing less than about a plate width, each left and right end of the lower plate and webs terminating short of the chain conveyors for forming the overhanging portions at the left and right distal ends. 
     
     
       17. The apron feeder of  claim 16 , wherein the elongate beam structure further comprises upstanding stiffener ribs adjacent each of the left and right distal end, each stiffener rib secured along the centerline of the upper and lower plates, and extending between the pair of converging web portions, each rib terminating short of the left and right chain link set respectively. 
     
     
       18. The apron feeder of  claim 11 ,
 each wing plate base portion has two or more bolt holes formed therein corresponding to two or more receiving holes in the corresponding chain link set. 
 
     
     
       19. The apron feeder of  claim 11  wherein each wing base portion has two or more bolt holes formed therein and corresponding to the two inward bolt holes. 
     
     
       20. The apron feeder of  claim 11  wherein the base of each L-shaped wing is adapted for mechanical fastening to the upper plate separate from the mechanical fastening of the chain connection interface to the chain link set.